SPRING CLEANSE 2014

What is this spring cleanse about?

April 1st I quit eating sweet things (including fruit, excluding Granny Smith apples), gluten, yeast, starchy vegetables, alcohol and caffeine for 30 days. I ordered CandiGONE herbal supplement which is a blend of natural herbs and ingredients that have been traditionally used to help maintain a healthy balance of intestinal flora. It includes vegetable capsules and a tincture that I’ve been taking first thing in the morning and last thing at night before bed. What is candida? Read about it here.
From top left: black beans and quinoa topped with sweet peppers, veggie plate, kale salad and raw crackers, raw maki rolls from Juice Generation

How did I feel?

During the first week I craved for sweet things almost all the time. I was used to having something sweet after meal, a lifelong habit which I thought would be hard to break. The thing is, I CAN have something sweet to satisfy the craving, but it should be something healthier and low-sugar. During these four weeks I’ve enjoyed pieces of green apples with almond butter. And not right after meal, but I wait at least 30 mins before having dessert. Another craving kicking in was bread. I chose to make my own gluten-free flatbread since it’s super easy to bake. Problem solved.
From top left: kale salad and homemade flatbread, cashew cheese ravioli from Juice Generation, cabbage and quinoa stir-fry, smoothie ingredients.

No coffee?

I thought this was going to be the toughest one. I’m used to having my little soy mocha before work to get me in great mood so I was a little worried how I was going to behave without it. I worried for no reason because I was just fine. I actually have way more energy than normal. During my lunch break I walk a lot, when home I clean, cook, play with the cats and organize the house instead of just crashing on the couch. I don’t fall asleep on the train on my way to work and back home. I drink tons of herbal teas and some Yerba Mate as well.
From top left: green apple with almond butter, chickpea stew with quinoa and sprouts, sesame tahini & almond butter, black beans, lentils, black rice and sprouts.

Adding exercise to the mix?

Yes, April 1st I also started my hot yoga studio’s hot yoga challenge aspiring to do 20 yoga classes in 30 days. It was a painful start because I was so out of shape, but after the first week I started feeling amazing. Muscle memory is one magical thing! Sweating profusely an hour a day gets the toxins out. My stomach has also been working like a dream. I really do feel all cleaned out!
From top left: raw falafel from Juice Press, oatmeal with apples and cinnamon, flatbread with hummus + tomato, cauliflower rice with bok choy.

What did I eat?

I’ve been cooking a lot more than normal because I’ve been always really hungry after yoga class and because now I actually have tons of extra energy to do that. Mostly lentils, beans, stir-fry, kale salads, curry, soups, quinoa, black rice, steel-cut oatmeal with apple, cinnamon and almond milk, green smoothies and -juices. And homemade bread with hummus. Yum.

Would I do it again?

Yes, absolutely! This is my second Candigone cleanse if you count the one I did last year for 2 weeks even though you’re really suppose to do it for 4 weeks. It feels amazing to have so much energy and be able to do so much more than I’d normally done. The feeling of lightness, your stomach working like a well-greased machine, feeling great mentally and physically for eating healthy, nourishing real foods. No guilty feelings at all!

I think this can totally be something I’ll do once or even twice a year in order to balance my body. I believe that these short cleanses can be a way to change my eating habits for good.

Just imagining how my life would be if I felt like this 365 days a year???

3 Replies to “SPRING CLEANSE 2014”

  1. Christina peter says:

    Omg your amazing… i would have a hell of a time! I will aspire to do this one day!

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